How to experience more gratitude

The weeks that lead up to Thanksgiving and end with New Year’s afford us multiple opportunities to pause and show enormous amounts of kindness and gratitude for all the many gifts we’ve been given. While being grateful is truly timeless, it seems that it rings especially true for many folks in the weeks leading up to the holidays, but what happens when the festivities wrap up and January rolls in, where does that gratitude and joyous heart go?

The long list of things that I am most grateful for are probably similar to yours and do not stop when the holidays are over.

After being sick for nearly two weeks, I am finding myself truly grateful for my good health.

I am thankful for the roof over my head.

After witnessing families who can’t afford a safe and warm home and who don’t even have the means to purchase socks and underwear, I am grateful for my safety, comfort and joy that I get to experience everyday when I arrive home after a long day of work.

I am thankful for my community and all the good hearted people who surround me whose goals are for the greater good of humanity and everyday I get to partake in their magic.

I am grateful for nature and all the joy it brings me. Living in Nashville is about taking in all the beautiful sunsets, trails, animals and good weather. It’s also about appreciating the fact that we get plenty of rain that affords us the pleasure of beauty without limitation as some states do not have that luxury.

What is unique about 2017 is that it kicks off the start of what is called a “1” year. In other words, if you add 2+0+1+7 = 10/1, you get a “1”. From a numerical sense we go through 9 year cycles and this year kicks off the start of a new 9 year cycle. A “9” year is all about endings. It represents aggressive action, courage, and conflict. A “9” year essentially wraps everything up that you experienced in that 9 year cycle to prepare you for the new cycle ahead, and it can be quite tumultuous as the key is to let go no matter the costs.

On the other hand a “1” year is all about creativity, benevolence, action and initiation. This is the year of ingenuity and originality. It is also a year of new leadership – so it’s no surprise that an entire nation was shocked (a “9” trait) by its new leader (a “1” trait).

In this “1” year expect many new beginnings. A “9” year is meant to rattle us and shake things up so we don’t get too comfortable. Now that we are all in a year of new beginnings the dust can start to settle and work can begin. But remember it’s a great time to show gratitude and be thankful for those wounds that were gathered. It is here that you learn and grow and become the person you are. Find humility with those events and give back. Make this the year of kindness, gratitude and thankfulness because it truly is timeless no matter the year you’re in.